Improvement in oyster-shucking machines



R. WELLS. Oyster-Shucking Machine.-

No. 211,449. Patented Jan.14, 1879;

FIG-

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

RICHARD WELLS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND- IMPROVEMENT IN OYSTER-SHUCKING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,449, dated January 14, 1879; application filed December 6, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD WELLS, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Oyster-Shuckin g Machinery, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to a device for breaking off a portion of the oyster-shell, whereby an opening may be exposed for the insertion of the opening-knife.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectional front view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section upon line a y.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the views.

A is a hammer or chipping tool, supported within a suitable guidin g-cylinder, B, by means of a spiral spring, G, and adapted to be forced down or depressed by means of a rod, a, exten din gfrom the hammer and connecting with a foot-treadle. The cylinderB is provided with a slot, 1), through which the hammer projects a short distance, as shown. D is a stationary plate or anvil, which serves as the rest upon which the oyster-shell is placed when about to receive the stroke of the hammer. The anvil is caused to project sufficiently far from the exterior of the cylinder B to allow the requisite amount of shell to be hammered or chipped out by the fall of the hammer. The anvil is slotted, as shown, to allow the hammer to pass below its upper surface and thereby chip out the edge of the shell. The base-plate E,

to which the cylinder and anvil are secured, is fastened to the shrieking-table.

The operationis as follows: The edge of the oyster-shell is placed upon the anvil, and by the depression of the treadle, which is under the table within convenient reach of the foot,

the hammer or chipper is caused to descend with force, chipping out the shell, an opening being left for the insertion of the openingknife, as before stated.

Although a treadle is herein described as the means of operating the hammer, I do not confine myself to it alone, as other devices for accomplishing the same result may be used. For instance, a series of hammers might be kept in constant motion by a line-shaft provided with eccentrics communicating with the rods (1. I

The advantages attending the use of this invention are important. In the ordinary method of preparing oysters for shucking or opening, either a hammer is used to chip off a portion of the shell, which instrument must be relinquished by the shucker before he takes up the opening-knife, or an opening-knife having a loaded handle is employed, which must be continually reversed in the hand as the two parts of the operation-breakin g and opening-are performed. The loss of time in carrying on these methods is material.

By the employment of my invention, the opening-knife is always held in the hand ready to be used as an opener, and the work of shuckand slotted anvil D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name this 3d day of December, A. D. 1878.

RICHARD WELLS.

Witnesses:

WM. '1. HOWARD, Tnos. MURDOCH. 

